Lip shield



J. C. PRICE March 31, 1964 LIP SHIELD Filed July 25, 1962 INVENTOR.

Jo asp/1 C. PRICE:

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a 7- v-aemls K United States Patent 3,126,550 LIP SHIELD Joseph C. Price, 136 E. Club Drive, Pittsburgh 36, Pa. Filed July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,366 1 Claim. (Cl. 2174) This invention relates to a shield for the lips, and more particularly to a shield of the type described for preventing lipstick from being smeared onto clothing as it is passed over the head of a wearer.

As an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide a new and improved lip shield to prevent lipstick smears on clothing, the invention being particularly adaptable for use by women to prevent lipstick smears on dresses as they are passed over the head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield of the type described which can be readily grasped Within the mouth of a user and which at the same time will permit breathing through the mouth.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lip shield which is vented so as to prevent perspiration around the lips during the time that the shield is worn by the user.

The above and other objects and features of the inven tion will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the lip shield of the present invention showing the manner in which it is inserted into the mouth of a user;

:FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention wherein breathing is facilitated through slots in the side of a tab inserted into the mouth;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III- III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 3, showing another embodiment of the invention wherein breathing is permitted through a tube which is inserted into the mouth.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the lip protector shown is preferably formed from plastic or other resilient or semi-resilient material and includes an outer shield plate shaped to conform to the contour of the lips, the lips being shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1 and identified by the numeral 12. Centrally provided in the outer shield plate 10 is an opening 14 having tabs 16 and 18 projecting inwardly from its upper and lower edges. As best shown in FIG. 3, the tabs have forward portions which converge to form juxtaposed portions as at 20. Formed at the sides or edges of the tabs 16 and 1-8 are openings 22, the arrangement being such that when the tabs 16 and 18 are inserted into the mouth of a user, breathing can occur with the air passing through the openings 22 at the edges of the tabs.

Provided in the shield plate are a plurality of openings or perforations 24, the purpose of these perforations being to permit a limited amount of air behind the shield plate 10 While it is in the mouth of a user to prevent perspiration around the lips :12.

In FIG. 4 another embodiment of the invention is shown wherein a tube 26 having a flattened portion 28 at its trailing end replaces the tabs 16 and 18. In this case, the tube 26 is secured around the entire periphery of the opening 14, while breathing can occur through the shield by virtue of the opening provided by the tube. Perforations or openings 24 are again provided in the shield plate 10.

In the use of the device, the tabs 16 and 18 or the tube 26, as the case may be, is inserted into the mouth, and grasped such that the shield plate 10 will provide a means for preventing lipstick from smearing onto dresses or other clothing as it is passed over the head of a wearer.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with certain specific embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements Without departing from the spirt and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

A shield for the lips to prevent lipstick from rubbing onto clothing as it is passed over the head of a wearer, comprising an outer plastic shield shaped to conform with the contour of the lips, said shield being of generally curved cross-sectional outline with edge portions extending toward the wearers face to effectively cover the lips and to preclude catching of garment parts on said shield, a plurality of openings in said shield to permit a limited amount of air behind the shield and thereby impede perspiration around the lips of the user, a central opening in said shield, plastic tabs integrally formed with said shield and projecting inwardly from the upper and lower edges of said opening, said tabs having forward converging substantially flat planar portions and rearward juxtaposed flat planar portions, the juxtaposed portions forming a flat element adapted to be grasped by the teeth of a user, and the converging portions of the tabs forming generally triangularly-shaped openings at the sides of the central opening in the shield, said triangularly-shaped openings permitting breathing through the mouth of the user with the air passing in and out through said triangularly-shaped openings and said central opening in the shield.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Malerman Jan. 6, 1948 

